What Is Web Application Security and How Does It Work?

Web application security refers to various practices and tactics used to fortify web apps - from?cloud-based applications?and content management systems to mobile app infrastructure - against cyberattacks.

Even the most well-designed web applications may contain some loopholes bad actors can exploit to steal sensitive information.

Implementing security measures to patch up those entry points allows you to identify and eliminate these vulnerabilities to prevent bad actors from breaking in and causing damage to your application.

Why Is Web Application Security Important?

Web application security is key to ensure the long-term success of your web application, providing the following benefits to your organization:

Improved Online Reputation

Modern consumers are becoming more aware of web application attacks. As such, they are hesitant to do business with companies that fail to take cybersecurity seriously.

By taking a proactive approach, you can ease customer concerns and boost your brand’s reputation.

Data Protection

A single data breach can paralyze your business and cost you millions of dollars when you consider the cost of damage control.

It’s your primary responsibility to ensure that you have done everything in your power to protect sensitive information your customers trust you with.

Fortunately, you can substantially reduce the likelihood of a data breach by working with a team of skilled developers that understand cybersecurity.

Cost

When it comes to spending money on web application security, consider it to be a long-term investment.

While cybersecurity costs money in upfront and maintenance costs, your organization will be less likely to be a victim of devastating data breaches or major process interruptions that hinder daily operations.

The quality of your web application security is critically dependent on the developers that you choose to oversee your project.

How Does Web Application Security Work?

The next thing that you must know is how web application security works. By gaining a deeper understanding of it, you can take proactive steps to stay ahead of cybercriminals.

Once vulnerabilities have been identified through various testing protocols, you can successfully address them. However, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions due to the complexity of web and mobile applications.?

Developers implement different solutions to address specific vulnerabilities. Some of them include:

Web Application Firewalls

Web application firewalls utilize a combination of software and hardware. Also known as WAFs, this preventative measure is extremely effective for preventing web application attacks.?

Developers can usually implement a firewall without altering your existing application. The firewall will analyze incoming traffic and block out anything that could potentially be a cyberattack attempt.

DDoS Protection

DDoS or distributed denial-of-service attacks are designed to disrupt the normal function of your network or service. They overload your server with excessive web traffic, which prevents your customers from accessing your site.?

DDoS protection software helps your server resist these attacks by protecting your network and the relays that funnel traffic to your site.

DNS Filtering

The DNS or Domain Name System is like a phonebook of the internet. DNS filtering blocks you and your staff from visiting certain websites that may threaten your web application by identifying banned sites by their IP addresses.?

DNS filtering is a vital security measure as?90 percent?of successful data breaches are actually caused by human error.